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Ensuring Cash Assistance and Emergency Interventions Reach Palestine Refugees in Syria

31 July 2017

Continuous displacement combined with exhaustion, desperation and frustration are taking an enormous toll on Palestine refugees in Syria. There are currently 438,000 Palestine refugees in Syria benefiting from the different services provided by UNRWA. A total of 418,000 are considered extremely vulnerable as they have no steady income and rely solely on the Agency’s humanitarian assistance.

In 2017, the Agency requires US$ 411 million for its humanitarian response to the Syria crisis, of which US$ 329 million will go towards supporting the Palestine refugees remaining inside the country. In response, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has donated EUR 5 million (US$ 5.4 million) to support of the UNRWA emergency response in Syria.

The seven-year conflict has left hundreds of thousands of Palestine refugees in need of emergency assistance such as cash, medical and food assistance, water and shelter. The ECHO contribution went towards life-saving emergency cash assistance and enabled the enhancement of the Agency’s preparedness and ability to respond to unanticipated emergencies. 

“I struggle on a daily basis to meet my family’s needs, especially since my disability makes it hard for me to find a proper job to provide for them,” explains Men’em al-Askari from Jillien. Men’em is one of the 418,000 Palestine refugees in Syria relying on the UNRWA cash assistance programme to buy food and clothes and pay rent. Syria Field Office, Damascus, Syria. © 2017 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid Mohammad. Not being able to make decisions for yourself and your family can erode dignity over time. On 2 May, UNRWA launched the second round of cash assistance in Syria thanks to the support of ECHO and other donors. Jaramana Collective Shelter, Damascus, Syria. © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadThere are 35 UNRWA staff members working on the cash assistance programme to deliver crucial aid to 418,000 Palestine refugees across Syria. UNRWA plans to conduct six rounds this year. Syria Field Office, Damascus, Syria. © 2017 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadIn response to the continuous displacement from Eastern Ghouta and Dera’a, UNRWA in Syria was able to deliver rapid-onset humanitarian assistance to a total of 6,033 individuals. Alliance Distribution Centre, Damascus, Syria. © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadCash assistance allows people to make their own choices and restores dignity and independence at a time when they have little control over their future. It also allows them to prioritize expenditures according to the needs of their household. Damascus, Syria. © 2017 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadLast March, UNRWA participated in the second inter-agency convoy to Khan Eshieh camp in Syria since 2013. Thanks to contributions from donors like ECHO, the Agency managed to deliver 1,500 food parcels, 1,500 hygiene kits and 50 kg of medicine to the area. Syria Field Office, Damascus, Syria. © 2017 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadLast March, UNRWA participated in the second inter-agency convoy to Khan Eshieh camp in Syria since 2013. Thanks to contributions from donors like ECHO, the Agency managed to deliver 1,500 food parcels, 1,500 hygiene kits and 50 kg of medicine to the area. Syria Field Office, Damascus, Syria. © 2017 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid Mohammad

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